VP Biden headlining $5,000 per couple fundraiser in Columbia

Vice President Joe Biden will headline a $5,000-a-couple fundraising lunch Tuesday at the Columbia home of former state Democratic party chairman Dick Harpootlian.

Invited guests, according to sources, include: former Gov. Jim Hodges and his wife Rachel; Columbia Mayor Steven Benjamin; former Democratic candidate for attorney general Matthew Richardson and his wife, Beth; Barnwell lawyer Terry Richardson; Democratic lieutenant governor candidate Bakari Sellers; and 5th Circuit Solicitor Dan Johnson.

Democratic gubernatorial candidate State Sen. Vincent Sheheen, D-Kershaw, was invited but is not expected to attend since he is preparing for his Tuesday night debate with Gov. Nikki Haley and three other challengers.

The private event held at Harpootlian’s new three-story house in the Wales-Garden Rose Hill area is expected to last at least an hour. The money raised will go to the S.C. Democratic Party.

On Monday afternoon, a lone Secret Service black sedan stood outside Harpootlian’s house. Many more Secret Service were expected to arrive when Biden comes for lunch. A Secret Secret agent on the scene declined comment and referred a reporter to his superior, who also declined comment.

Biden, a 2016 White House hopeful, is scheduled to speak at 11 a.m. Tuesday during a voter rally at Allen University. In May, the vice president delivered the commencement address at the University of South Carolina and attended a party fundraiser.

This story was originally published October 13, 2014 at 7:05 PM with the headline "VP Biden headlining $5,000 per couple fundraiser in Columbia."